Welcome

Thank you for your interest in this important, influential role for South Gloucestershire. This is an opportunity to make a telling contribution to how we support children and young people and give them the skills they need to be successful in life. Education is the number one priority for South Gloucestershire Council, so this role has high expectations attached to it. But it also comes with a commitment from both of us to work closely with the postholder and to ensure they have the right support and influence required to be successful.

We’re a council with a genuinely open, collaborative approach to the way we work together and with other organisations. We’re proud of our ability to work effectively in partnerships, to operate with a flat hierarchy and to engage stakeholders in our decision-making. We have a good record in education but we also recognise that there is more that we can do.

We know that the key to unlocking the potential of our education system is a more connected approach. Our primary schools are performing well, yet our secondary schools do not always build on this platform well enough. We have the resources in place, but we need to be more focused on ensuring that we work closely with local employers to provide the region with the skills it finds most valuable.

Through this role, we hope to improve standards and outcomes for children through a more strategic and collaborative approach. So we’re looking for someone who can build partnerships, provide clear advice on education, policy and scrutiny, and help to build a culture of high attainment. This isn’t a quick fix. It is a long-term project for a leader who wants to build on success and grow with us.

We hope that you are excited by this opportunity and that you can see the potential to make a real impact in South Gloucestershire. Good luck with your application, we look forward to hearing from you.

Cllr Toby Savage, Council Leader with Cabinet responsibility for schools